The "look" of the coin....... or the 'look" of the set?

Spooly

How do you collect? Do the coins in your set look different? Some toned? Some not? Do you try to "look" match the set?


I always went after the individual "look" of the coin. But at the TNA show I got to see 2 other registry sets..... the thing that struck me was how well the these sets matched! ("The set look")

I then went to the bank and got my collection and layed them out all together. My eyes where drawn to 8 coins that didn't have the "set look"! I sold them! I am now working on replacing these coins with PQ coins with the same "look" as the rest of the set.

Does the set look matter to you?

Do you like to mix it up?

dpoole

I like to keep a consistent "look" (e.g. white Washingtons), but I'll take a nice toned one if I have a hole, particularly if it has other redeeming and desireable qualities, and is a date hard to come by in any "look."

daveyn

I'm sure you will find a lot of different opinions on that subject. I personally like to have different looking coins in my set, some toned some snow white. I pick out a coin that appeals to me at that time and don't worry that much about how it will fit into my set.
I really do like toned coins, but nice ones are hard to come by. I'm glad I read this post, I was trying to remember the online book store that I purchased my RPM book from and there it was.


daveyn

Mark

Spooly:

I go strictly for the look of the set. However, in my case that's relatively easy because my wife likes only "white" coins and so, because I also like them, I nowadays buy only "white" coins. In fact, I have up-graded and replaced toned coins with untoned coins so that the set will appear uniform.

Mark

khayse

I usually go with what I like at the time. But usually that's usually the same
thing so most of the coins in my set match pretty well. I don't insist on it
though so if I find a toned coin that I really like the look of I don't rule
it out because it doesn't match the others.

-KHayse

andy007

I prefer original, nicely toned examples for all of my coins, but that's about as far as I go in concerns to matching my set, I like for each individual coin to stand on it's own merits. It's too boring to look at a set of coins that all look the exact same IMO.

LincolnCentMan

Spooly,

To me, nothing beats a well matched set. It doesnt matter if it's vg/f, xf/au, or 66/67. A well matched set looks great.

Of coarse, you've seen my set . I just look for the best coin I can find for the grade. Eye appeal is a must. Maybe one of these days I could see your set. It's bound to be a looker also!

I'm constantly on the prowle for coins to go in my set. I buy, compair it to the one I have, and sell the lesser one. That's my "secret" to putting together a top-notch set. Another thing I've been doing a lot of, is buying raw and submitting the coins myself. I've gained a greater apprication for how difficult some of that stuff is to locate, even in raw examples. It further justifies my willingness to pay higher prices for nicer coins. And I'd almost sell the car for a 35-S in PCGS 67RD... of coarse... for that date... I'd have to sell the car lol.

I do like toned coins, but I keep them seperate from my set. The most beautiful Lincoln I own is a 1942-P in PCGS 64BN. Ok, I have a little problem with PCGS calling it a 64, but it's never for sell, so who cares? Back before I broke down and paid $200 to PCGS for the privilege of me giving them my buisness, I had a friend submit it for me. Is it in my set? Nope. Is it in my collection? Yep.

David

izzy452

I try to get all white coins, I have only one toned coin in my set and I'm going to upgrade it to white as soon as I can find one. LQQKING for a WHITE 1945-S MS67 FB MERC, anyone see one ?


Walt

grip

Walt,
You have a super set started and love that Micro.Wish you had scan's would like to view them.Al

Fairlaneman

Strike is the Main thing for this Guy. Mushy Strikes just turn Me Off completely.

Most White Coins IMO have Been Dipped at sometime since they have left the Mint, talking Merc Dimes here. I know this will receive some Comments but that is Just the Opinion I have about the 55+ year Old Coins that are persued. Granted Some Original White Merc's are out there but Not Nearly as many as People Think.

I really believe that Not a Single White Coin from the 72 Merc's in My set is Original. All have been Dipped or Conserved. On the Other Hand the Toned Coins IMO are all Original. The Coins with Partial Tone Do Not Display the "Blast White" look but instead Display the Grayish Look which Signals Original to Me.

Now to Answer the Question. As Long as the Coin has a Nice Strike and Some Decent Eye Appeal it Will end Up in the Set. Toned, Partially Toned, and White, as the Last Resort, are All Exceptable. Trying to Put a Matched Set of Merc's together would take Longer than this Guy has Left on Earth.

Yea Also I Buy the Number and Not the Coin.

Hey Spooly:

Did the NGC Boards get You Thinking Today. Atleast a Few Posts over there Got Them "Fired Up" a little.

Ken

TomB

I feel rather lonely here as I don't collect coins so as to make sets; I have an overall collection of pieces. Most of my MS and PF coins are much more toned than is typical and, therefore, I don't have an enormous number of coins. I also have blast white and lightly patinated coins, it's all about the individual eye appeal of each coin as I look at it. This extends into my circulated coins as I prefer original coins regardless of whether they are a nice, light grey or a dark, even navy.

Cocoinut

I consider each coin based on its own merits. While I generally prefer white coins, an attractively toned, fully lustrous coin is always welcome. An evenly matched set may be a plus if you intend to sell the set as a whole, but otherwise I don't think it's important.

Ken,

I believe most post-1934 silver coins can easily be found in original undipped condition. I used to buy singles from a dealer that had hundreds of original rolls of Mercs (mostly from the '40's), and a stock that included rolls of almost every date of all denominations after 1934. I'd sure love to go back 30 years and do some cherrypicking!

1934 is the pivotal date, because that's when the first inexpensive coin boards were marketed, and collecting current coinage become popular. Rolls were saved in much greater quantities. Today, pre-1934 rolls are seldom encountered (except dollars). Even so, earlier dates CAN be found white and undipped, they're just not as common. That's why I will gladly buy a nicely toned pre-'34 coin, but prefer white for the later dates.

Jim

merz2

Spooly
I too am trying to get the look.I do have some that don't fit,but will be replaceing those as I can.

Bcsican

I look for coins that are PQ for the grade, and white. When a coin looks good but has some toning it is added to my set but I always have my eye open for a matching set.

I just prefer coins with less toning as not to hide the true look of the coin. I have a couple of toned ones in the set, as finding the best strikes is difficult and expensive. The coins that attract my eye also have fewer nicks are usually white, MS 67. Its those coins I want for my set....

DHeath

I'm sure it's possible and fun to do either, but I prefer the look of the coin to the look of the set. The exception is Grade vs. Dcam. It seems many collectors want the grade to match, and will buy a cam coin to put in a dcam set to keep the grade consistent. Many others build all dcam and seek the highest grade they can find/afford, matching cameo over grade. I'm in the latter with proofs, but I think both make sense. Mint state coins are harder. Color is tough for me, because some of the rainbow coins are beautiful, but I have a hard time deciding how much toning is attractive before a coin becomes garish or ugly. It's all personal taste, but I like color.

howie08

For my Franklin 1/2's , I prefer the white coins ; mainly because I just don't like the brown toning they acquire , which also seems to really diminish the lustre. I store them in the Intercept Shield slab storage boxes , so hopefully they won't turn brown on me. I'll let you know how it works out in 10 years , when I have to replace the boxes . I appreciate the rainbow toning the Morgans acquire .
Howie

michael

for me it is the look of the coin that counts most,

if i ever were to do a set, the coins in the set would probably be judged on their individual merits weather they are blast white, deeply toned or somewhere inbetween

sincerely michael

Fairlaneman

Jim:

I understand that Original White Coins are Available. The Biggest Problem for a Person to find them probably has to do where He or She Lives. Being from Oregon where the Population for the Whole State is Less Than the Seattle Metro area the Oppurtunity to Find these Coins is Remote. The Largest Coin Show in the Region was in Seattle a Couple of Months Ago and Absolutely Nothing was Available in the Mercury Dime Series. Mercs are Very Tough too Find in this Region and when they do Show the Owners think they are Gold.

Really I am Very Envious of People that speak of what You have in Your Post. As far as I know maybe one Dealer in this Region has Original Rolls or so He says. I have Never seen him with any nor has he Offered to Sell any to me.

Ebay or Auctions are the Only means to aquire the Later Dates for Me and so far the White Coins I have Aquired from these Sources have obviously been Dipped or Conserved. Maybe Part of the Problem is that I Do Not look real hard for White Examples.

Thanks for the Post and if I ever change from My liking of Toned Coins and Start Collecting White Coins I will get ahold of You to see if You can Run them down for Me.

Take Care:

Ken

izzy452

Ken,
Send those nasty early white coins that you dont want .my way

Walt


Al,
I'll try to scan some when I get a chance....and thanks.

BRdude

I don't go for the set look really either. I have mostly white coins, but like to throw a few different toned ones in just to have an example. I kind of prefer to keep the conditions fairly uniform as an AU/BU set, or MS set, but to each their own

python1

I prefer all white lusterous coins, and yes I love to look at mine in my new display case, and enjoy them all looking matched (with a few exceptions, that will be swapped out).
I, on the other hand have seen a set of toned coins on display, that were just as beautiful, but there again, they almost all matched. But what ever some one likes for them self, is what they need to put together. I know that I am always ragging Ken about his toned coins, but in reality, they are some of the nicest striked coins out here. I understand about strike as well as the rest do, and it also is very important. I just hope that one day, we (merc collectors) can display all of our sets at a large show all at once, that would be something to see!!!!!!!!!!
Keep on collecting!!!!!! Mercs Rule!

quattrocoins

As in my musical tastes, I prefer an eclectic mix of unique sweetly toned coins.

One Blast White per set is just fine w/me!
Besides, one never knows what the fish will be hittin'!

Regards,

Don

Sweetly Toned Gems and

Colorfulcoins

Definitely Look of the set. Look at the responses for "White set" and "Toned set". We even label our sets to make it easy to convey to others what we collect. My 2 cents as a "newbie".........with a Toned set <grin>.

python1

Welcome, colorfulcoins. Have you listed your set? if so, what name is it under?

Colorfulcoins

Colorfulcoins

Oops - love those blank page transmits <pilot error>.

Dennis, thanks for the warm welcome to the Boards. Alas, I'm not a dedicated winged dime collector (yet) but I do favor the later Roosevelt dimes and intend to get my set up on the set list shortly. Though I wish it was, my set is not uniform but I'm working on getting the last couple of white coins out and toned beauties in.

Is it a faux pas for a Rosy guy to reply to a Merc (it seems) thread?

Craig

pontiacinf

well seeing as my main workable set is the statehood quarter set, id say im staying with white coins

but i do have other sets, and my proof and ms frankies are mixed, toned and untoned....so I have no particular preference there.

eric im sure your set is killer